Venezuelan Government Accuses US of Extortion Over Seizure of Oil Tankers

Thu Dec 25 2025 02:50:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a heated session at the UN Security Council, Venezuela's ambassador condemned the US seizure of two oil tankers, referring to it as a significant act of extortion and questioning US intentions regarding Venezuela's oil industry.

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Venezuela accused the US of extreme extortion following the seizure of two oil tankers. The Venezuelan government claims that the actions represent pillaging and a demand for recolonization, while the US defends its position citing drug-related activities by the Maduro administration. As tensions rise, international reactions from countries such as Russia and China have expressed concern over US military actions in the region.

Venezuela has accused the United States of the greatest extortion at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York.

Washington's seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers was worse than piracy, the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN said.

The emergency meeting of the Security Council was called to discuss the seizure of the tankers, which took place off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month.

The US has also said it was pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker.

President Trump has accused Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drugs cartel and said gangs had operated with impunity for too long.

On December 16, Trump ordered a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The US president has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil it has taken, as well as the vessels themselves.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's envoy to the UN argued his country was facing a power acting outside of international law, and that the US's actions amount to pillaging and recolonizing Venezuela's resources.

In response, the US Ambassador to the UN reiterated that the US does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, framing the actions as necessary to combat narcotics trafficking.

As geopolitical tensions escalate, other nations such as Russia and China have condemned US military activities, suggesting these actions could set a troubling precedent for future interventions in Latin America.